Polished rod rotator



April 24, 192s. 1,667,240

v A. BoYNToN POLI SHED ROD HOTATOR Filed June 19. 1926 'www Patented Apr. 24, 1928.

UNITED STATES ALEXANDER kBOYNTON, OF SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.

POLISHED ROD ROTATOR.

Application led June 19, 1926. Serial No. 117,193.

The invention forming the subject matter of this applic-ation is in the nature of a polished rod rotator especially adapted 'for use in connection with well pumping equipment and an important object is to provi-de for a limited rotation of the plunger rod on each down stroke thereof to distribute wear, keep the stuffing box and other parts in round, and provide for the increased lite of the equipment.

A further object iste provide a polished rod rotor having simple means whereby the rods are prevented trom being twisted in two should the cups or plunger stick.

Another aim is to provide a polishedrod rotator which may be applied to a polished rod and a beam without altering the construction of these parts and which is provided with simple means to permit et the pulling of the rods without entirely detaching or dismantling the rotator whereby the employment of the improved rotator is not accompanied by time consuming operations as are somany attachments in the industry. A further and equally important objectis to provide an intermittent polished rod rotator having simple means whereby the throw or zone of action of the samel may be varied for operation under a. variety of conditions, and which will have an intermittent tightening` eiipect on the joints ot the rods to keep the rods tight.

Other objects andadvantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

. Figure 1 isa side elevation of the improved polished rod rotator applied;

Figure 2 is' a similar view taken at substanti ally right angles to Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view through that part of the improved rotator adapted for application to the polished rod; Figure 4; is a horizontal sectionalview taken on line @lL-,4i of Figure 3. y,

' In the drawings, thenumeral 10 designates a beam of conventional or other design and the numeral 11 designates alpolished rod adapted to extend through a polished rod trunnion 12 as clearly shown in Figures 1 and 2. Figure 2 probably best illustrates that the trunnion set screwy may be engaged with the polished rod to firmly attach the polished rod to the trunnion, but at this point it is important to note that they successful operation of the improved rotor shown in yFigures 1 to 4, inelusive, is dependent on the loosening of the screw 14 before the'well is pumped with the aid ot the improved rotor. As previously stated, the invention is in the nature of a device designed to impart intermittent rotation to the rod and if the set screw 111 were in locking engagement with the polished rod, this would be impossible since the trunnion 12 is mounted on a saddle 15 secured to the beam.` n

That part of the improved rotator which isapplied directly to the polished rod is best shown in Figure 3 wherein the body of the rotator is designated by 'the numeral 16 and consists of a more or less tubular body having upper and lower set screws 18 to clamp the body securely to the polished rod. rlfhe` clamping action ot' the set screws 18 may be supplemented by a longitudinally split nipple threaded into one end ot the body 16.

In carrying out the invention, the intermediate portion of the body is externally enlarged and is provided with an annular series of ratchet teeth as shown in Figure 4 which ratchet teeth are engaged by a spring actuated dog 19. Figure 4 also illus' trates that the dog 19 is movable within a Vradially extending housing 20 on a shell or annular attaching member 22. The housing 2O also encloses the shank 24 of the dog and a coil spring 26 is confined between the major portion of the dog and the rear end of the housing. The function of the spring 26 is obviouslyV to urge the dog `19 into `engagement with the ratchet teeth on the adjacent portion of the body. Therefore, turning of the annular attaching portion 22 will result iny turningv of the body in the proper direction. However, on the return or backward movement of the annular bodyr 22 no rotativetorce will be applied to the body 16.

Referring now to Figure 3 it will be seen that theannular attaching body or shell 22 rests upony and turns upon an annular supporting flange or shoulder 28 formedv integral ,with'lthe body so that the dog19 is maintained in constantA operative relation to the ratchet teethi The dog 19 normally entends beyond. the inner' surface of the ieu tegral with a bracket 43. Figure'l shell 22 and topern'iit of the application of the body 22 to the main tubular body 15 the exteriorly arranged rear terminal portion ot the shank 24 is gripped by a pair of pliers or other suitable vtool to yretract the dog 19 whereupon the shell or annular attaching member 22 may be easily slipped into place.

Also when it is desired'to detach the annular shell 22 'from the body 16 it is merely necessary to retract the dog 19 With the aid ol a pair ot" pliers or the like and then slip the shell oil the body as Will be obvious.

'The rotator body 16 rests upon a iv shcr and the Washer in turn is mounted on and is positioned within acup-shaped member 32` the cup being adapted to receive a suitable lubricant to reduce friction be tvvleen the rotator and the polished rod trun- .riion- Y Referring now tothe actuating means by which intermittent rotation 4is imparted to the polished rod, it is pointed out thatthe shell or attaching annular member 22 is provided opposite the housing with a lateral projection 35 haring` a vertical openingltoadjiistably receive an arm 36. Figure lplainlyillustrates that a set screw 3T may be employed to secure the arm 36 in an adjust-ed position with respect to the lateral projection 35. rlhe arm 3G is made adjustable to avoid the necessity of positioning the rotor a substantial distance above the -polished rod trunnion. H the rotor is positioned too high upon the polished rod, the polished rod is apt to bend under the strain incident to the intermittent operation ofthe rotor. To avoid such bending it is desirable that the, rotating mechanism be kept Well down upon thepolished rod trunnion.

`The upper portion ol the arm 36 has a laterally extending opening to rotatably and slidably receive a connecting shaft or: pin 33 having a. substantially oval-shaped head 39.

The head 39 is movable Within a vertically positioned,*transversely curved actuatorl 42 rigidly Secured to and preferably formed inp clearly illustrates that the bracket 4:3 extends upr Wardly from an attaching base le secured to tliebeam by U bolts 16.

V A.Ssumingl the .vellis on the pump and itlisdesired to apply the rotoi; the usual polishedlrod clamp is first removed. The

lsetscrevv V11i is tightened to bear the weight of lie rods While the rotor assembly is being applied,fand,. as previously stated. after the L.With the elements connected thereto.

With the body 16 and associated elements thus secured to the polished rod the arm 36 isezitended through the opening in the member and the more or less oval-shaped head 39 is received in the transversely ,curvedaetuator ,412. Vflikhe bracket 43 of the actuator 42 is securely attached to the beam soinovenrent of the beam Will be imparted to the actuator 42.

ln linallyV adjusting the, rotor, care must betaken to loosen thepolished rod trunnion lock screw 14- and to posit-ion the laterally projecting housing` 20'at right angles to the beam when the beam is midway between the upper and lower extreme positions sothat exactly the right movement vwill be imparted to the polished rod. That is to say7 when the rotor is properly adjusted the laterally projectingl housing 2O `ivillbc at right angles to the beam when the beam is midway-between the ends ot its travel.

rille rocking of the beam will be accompanied by a similar movement of the actuator head 39 so that when the beam moving downwardly the head 39 Will be moved `t'or- Wardly whereby. the shell 22 and the spring actuated dog 19 carried thereby will be turned in a. clockwise direction. lWhen the shell 22 and the spring actuated dog are thus moved in a clockwisevdirectionthe body 16 otthesrotor Will be similarly turned 4to bring about the turning` of the 'polished rod, 'the sucker rods connected thereto, andthe cups. is tl e arm 36l advances onfthe descent ot the beam it nf'ill'partaleot aslight arcuate movement about the axis of the rotor and hence the upper portion of the arm 36 movesflengthivisc ot the shaft 33. As the beam approaches the ond ot itsV travel. in either direction the actuator Ll2 is naturally in a tilted position-,but this willvnot atiect the arm 3-3 as the oval-shaped heagd is movablewvith the actuator. ltis thus seen that the heal is not only rotatably connected to the arm 36 but ie also '1lidably connected thereto. Ot course, the rocking ot the beam also causes the movement ol the head 39 lengthwise `of the actuator.

Should it be desired to pull the rods it is merely necessary to Idetach the arm '36 nf'hereby the connectionA between the bracket 35 and that part ot the rotor which is'connected to the polished rod isV broken. The polished rod may nonv be removed and laid in the derrick trame or on the ground along with the sucker rodi `which are laterpulle'd.

'll/'hen it is desired to re-inst-all the rods and again mountthe polished rod this Vis-done Withouty interferenceby the rotator. iIt.' is a simple matter to reconnect the actuator 42 to the lateral projection 35-tlirough the medium of the arm 35 so that the `Well is .again ready for pumping.

When'the rotator is employed below the beam a polished rod lclamp 168 is employed in the usual manner.

los

The employment of a polished rod rotator constructed in accordance with this invention avoids wear on any particular portion of the equipment. In case a grain of sand or other foreign substance is lodged on one of the cups the working barrel will not be scored and the intermittent turning of the cups will distribute the wear so that the well may operate for a longer periodthan would otherwise be possible without pulling the rods. Also, the intermittent turning of the rods in a clockwise direction maintains the joints tight and thereby avoids parting of the joints so objectionable in the operation of pumping wells. Another feature of the invention resides in the fact that wear on the stuiiing box is uniformly distributed and consequently leaks are avoided.

By thus distributing the wear and avoiding'the formation of squirt grooves orjets, cutting of the oil is overcome. It is well known that the use of defective cups, etc., emulsifies the oil to a certain extent so that its sale value is lessened. By the employment of this invention emulsification of the oil while being pumped is prevented.

During the normal operation of the pumping equipment and the accessory forming the subject of this application the rods are turned in a clockwise direction on each down stroke of the pump. This turning is, of course, under the influence of the rotor, but should the cups or plunger become stuck in the working barrel, a back ystrain will be built up in the rods and this back strain will cause the oscillating part of the rotor to move back with the actuator during the return of the actuator to an operative position from where it may again turn the rods in a clockwise direction. It will thus be seen that the rotor will be prevented from twisting the rods to the breaking point. The action of the rotor is positive until the back strain caused by 4sticking of the cups or plunger exceeds a predetermined point and then additional twisting of the rods is prevented, this arrangement or clutch action constituting one of the main safety `features of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

l. A polished rod rotator comprising a body having means whereby the same may be connected to a polished rod, an intermittent turning device associated with the body,

an arm connected to the turning device, a member rotatably and slidably connected to the arm, and an actuator to which said member is slidably connected.

2. A polished rod rotor comprising a body having means whereby the same may be connected to a polished rod, ran intermittent turning device associated with the body, an arm connected to the turning device, a member rotatably and slidably connected to the arm, an actuator to which said member is slidably connected, and a bracket supporting the actuator and having means whereby the same may be secured to a beam.

3. A polished rod rotor comprising a body having means whereby the same may be connected to a polished rod, an intermittent turning device associated with the body, an arm connected to the turning device, a mem.- ber rotatably and slidably connected to the arm, an actuator to which said member is slidably connected, and a bracket supporting the actuator and having means whereby the same may be secured to a beam, said actuator being curved transversely and said member being reduced toward the ends thereof whereby the same may move within the actuator.

4. In a device of the character described an actuator having means whereby the same may be rigidly secured to a beam, a connecting member having a head movably positioned within the actuator, an arm slidably and rotatably connected to said member, and a polished rod rotating device having means whereby the same may be moved about the axis of a polished rod and having rigid connection with said arm, the slidable connection between said arm and said member permitting of the movement of the rotating device about the axis of the rod.

5. A polished rod rotating device comprising a polished rod rotating unit having a lateral projection, an arm rigidly and adjustably connected to said projection and being provided with an. opening. a connecting member slidably and rotatably extended through said opening and being provided with an oval-shaped head, and a transversely curved actuator movably receiving said head and being provided with means whereby the same may be secured to a beam;

In testimony whereof I aliix my signature.

ALEXANDER BoYNToN. 

